In a shocking incident, a 28-year-old man murdered his wife at his house at Bagan Area in Baliguma near Mango under MGM police station area, on Tuesday morning.
The accused identified as Nandu Prajapati first strangulated his wife and hit her face with a chopper. The victim identified as Chinta Devi (23) succumbed to her injuries.
After committing the crime, the assailant who is a mason by profession, fled the spot, neighbours informed police about the incident.
Officer-in-charge, MGM police station, Anuj Kumar confirmed the murder and said that they have recovered the weapon used in the crime from the house.
"We are investigating the incident as per our initial findings a dispute between the couple over dowry led the ghastly act. We have taken the statement of the murder victim's brother Krishna Kumar who has said that his brother-in-law had been harassing his sister for bringing cash and dowry. He finally murdered the woman as she failed to meet the demand," said the officer-in charge.
The assailant used to stay at the house of Sikandar Prajapati, who is the former's brother-in-law.
Sikandar said that both Nandu and Chinta used to fight over trivial matters.
“We came to know about the incident when we heard noises at Nandu's residence. He was screaming on his wife. later it seemed as if he was assaulting the woman in a closed room, with the victim seeking for help. The room being closed from inside, at the most we could only repeatedly tell Nandu not to beat his wife. But, after sometime the sound of screaming and assault had stopped. But at about 7.30 am a woman in the neighbourhood went over to the room and found Chinta's body lying in a pool of blood on the floor," narrated Sikandar.
According to Sikandar, Nandu had already murdered his wife while he along with the neighbours were asking him to stop beating. He said the assailant had waited for some time and when they all left the place, he fled the spot by sneaking out of the house.
Krishna, who is a resident of Bagbera said that they had got their sister's marriage with Nandu in the year 2010, when they had given the accused adequate dowry, but he was demanding cash as dowry.
Meanwhile, the police are conducting raids to nab the assailant.
Strict vigil is being observed in the local area.